Every town has a story, a story to lasts the generations. And
Vigan is no exception. However, this story is of love in a time of war,
a time fraught with danger, suspicion and prejudice. But who knew then
that the fate of Vigan-- its families, its beautiful homes, and its
history-- rested on the love of two enemies?
In 1941,
World War II swept the globe and reached the shores of our islands,
along with the Japanese occupation. A man from Ilocos Sur who was then
the Post Master of Baguio City was accused of some crime and jailed by
the Japanese. While in jail, he was frequently visited by his family,
including his lovely daughter. Soon, her pretty daughter captured the
heart of the Kempeitai Officer stationed in Baguio.
In
1943, as destiny would have it, the Kempeitai Officer was assigned to
Vigan and again, met the pretty daughter of the Baguio Post Master. And
yet, no matter the mutual hatred between their nations, the two became
lovers. Many dismissed it as a relationship of convenience-- a young,
pretty Filipina seeking protection for her whole family by giving in to
the amorous advances of a powerful Japanese military man. A love in the
time of war, a love between two enemies was never an easy path to
take. But only true love could have pulled them through.
1945.
Elsewhere in the world, the Allied Forces were winning the war and the
Japanese Army was forced to retreat. Somewhere in Vigan, there lived a
German Parish Priest. The Japanese were ordered to retreat from Vigan
and leave only destruction behind them. Who knows what happened on that
one fateful night in 1945? Who knows what pleas and prayers were made
in desperate whispers, in numbing darkness? Who knows what hearts were
broken and what promises were made? We certainly never will. But as the
morning dawned over the town, it was clear that Vigan had been spared.
It had escaped total destruction, a misfortune that befell other places
like Cebu and the City of Intramuros in Manila. Vigan was not torched
nor bombed; the dead were not left to rot, the living not left to weep.
Declared
as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vigan stands tall and proud; speaking
only of triumph and salvation, speaking only of love that conquers all.
Whether you’re a film buff or
not, you are sure to find a movie to enjoy this month at SM Cinema with the
hodgepodge of films it is showing. At SM
Cinema, movie-viewing is more engaging with its all-digital theaters featuring
crystal-clear image display and powerful sound.
SM Cinema celebrates the 100% digitization of
its screens by fortifying its CinExclusive. CinExclusive is a program where SM
Cinema gets the sole rights to exhibit certain films. Some of the CinExclusive
films that made it into the box office are The
Ring 3 and Rurouni Kenshin. This March,
SM Cinema features 4 exclusive movies.
The first CinExclusive
for the month, Snitch, opens March 6. In Snitch, Dwayne Johnson shows the
extent of how far a father would go to save his child. Johnson takes the role
of a father who goes on a dangerous mission to save his son from imprisonment
after having been wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime.
Quest for A Heartis another Cinexclusive that is appealing
to kids and kids at heart with a storyline that is both hilarious and poignant
and backgrounds that are fantastic and beautiful. This animation recounts the
adventures of Rolli, a legendary Finnish fairytale hero. It opens on March 13.
Set in the heart of the African
jungle, the CinExclusive Dinosaur Project, follows a team of
explorers in a quest to prove the existence of a legendary and mythical water
creature. What they discover are giant creatures that have been presumed
extinct for millions of years. The film hits theaters on March 20.
Apartment 1303, a remake
of the Japanese horror film of the same name, also opens March 20. The movie is
about Janet, a young girl who moves into a new apartment after a family dispute.
Soon she finds out that she’s not alone. There’s someone else in apartment 1303--someone
spooky and definitely dead.
Aside from the Cinexclusive films,
SM Cinema is showing sure-fire blockbusters. For fans who are into the Hitchcock-type
of thriller, the drama horror Stoker is coming March 1. The film
reveals a family mystery that is both fascinating and bone-chilling.
The Last Exorcism star Ashley Bell is coming back to the big screen
on March 6 to reprise her role of Nell Sweetzer in the film’s sequel. In The Last Exorcism II, Nell Sweetzer
tries to live a normal life but the evil that tortured her returns with a more
devious plan.
Oz the Great and the Powerful
takes cinema-goers to the fantastical land of Oz to join a small-time magician
in a marvelous adventure that will either make him a good man or a great
one. Starting March 7, this eye-candy of
a film will be available in the most immersive movie-watching experience—the IMAX
3D Experience.
Fast-paced action adventure
awaits Cinephiles on March 13 with the opening of the movie Dead
Man Down. In the movie, Collin Farrell and Noomi Rapace have been playing
cat and mouse until they find out that they share the same goal, to seek
revenge to a crime lord.
‘Director DJ’ Quentin Tarantino plays
his newest piece of mix-and-match genre and music infusion in Django
Unchained. The film follows a
freed slave and a German bounty hunter as they rescue the former’s wife from a cruel
plantation owner. The film, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo
DiCaprio, opens March 13.
A sleight of hand and funny
antics, plus Steve Carell and viewers get The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
After splitting up with his long-time partner and facing a cutthroat
competition with a rising magician, Burt must remember what made him love magic
in order to save his career. This comedy film opens March 20.
On March 22, kids and adults
alike can go on a prehistoric comedy adventure in the animation The
Croods. The world’s first family embarks on a journey, leaving behind
their tradition, to venture into an unknown world filled with possibilities and
revolutionary inventions. The film features the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone
and Ryan Reynolds.
The Host, a sci-fi
thriller based on a book written by the Twilight
series author Stephenie Meyer, hits SM Cinema on March 30. In the film, a parasitic
soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder, making her a ‘host’. Instead
of completely invading the body of Melanie, the ‘soul’ named Wanda helps her rescue
humanity.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation,
one of the most-awaited films of the year, also opens on March 30. The Joes have been branded as traitors by the
government. Without anyone to back them up, they must face Commander Cobra and
save the world. The film will be released in 3D and IMAX 3D.
About SM Cinema
SM Cinema is the
country’s leading film exhibitor with more than 246 digital cinemas in 45 branches.
It’s also the sole franchisee of IMAX Theatres in the country. Currently, it
manages 6 IMAX Theatres—IMAX Mall of Asia, IMAX North EDSA, IMAX Southmall, IMAX
Cebu , IMAX Clark and IMAX Lanang.
At SM Cinema, movie-watching is more fun and rewarding with its e-PLUS
card loaded with VIP privileges, special promos, seasonal offers, quarterly
raffles and invites to exclusive events.
To know more about
the company, visit SM Cinema’s website at www.smcinema.com. You may also like
SM Cinema on Facebook (facebook.com/smcinema) and follow them on Twitter
(twitter.com/sm_cinema). To connect with IMAX on Facebook, follow
facebook.com/imaxsmcinema and like them on Twitter.com/imax_smcinema
Welcome the month of February with SM Cinema’s
Cinexclusive treats. SM Cinema offers movies that will warm your heart and set
your pulse racing. On top of these, it introduces promos that double the fun of
movie-watching. Cinephiles get a special treat
this Valentine season with SM Cinema’s Back 2 Back Movie promo.Movie-goers get to ride an emotional roller
coaster with Playing for Keeps and Smiley for a price of just one regular
ticket. Additional treat is given to
e-PLUS members with the 50% discount they get on the tickets of Race 2 and Iliw. SM Advantage Card,
Prestige Card, BDO Rewards Card and Global Pinoy Card holders get 20% off on
tickets for these three CinExclusives.
Race 2 is SM Cinema’s next Bollywood. This adrenaline-pumping action film is the sequel of the 2008 hit Race 1. This fast-paced thriller follows
Ranvir Singh (Saif Ali Khan) and the retired cop Robert D'Costa (Anil Kapoor)
as they team up to avenge the death of Singh’s wife. Race 2 will be screened
from February 8 until February 10 at SM Cinema Megamall.
The romantic comedy Playing for Keeps opens February 13. Its
stellar cast includes Gerald Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta
Jones, Judy Greer, and Dennis Quaid. The film is about a former sports star who
starts coaching his son’s soccer team in an attempt to put his life together
but finds himself amidst the irresistible moms of his players.
After getting a good dose of
laughter with Playing for Keeps,
prepare to get a big scare with Smiley.
This horror film follows a mentally
fragile teen discovering that the demented serial killer who has nothing but a
carved “smiley” on his face is more than an urban legend. Is she insane or is she the next victim? The
movie stars Caitlin Gerard.
Iliw, a tale of love and longing set against the backdrop of war,
is also coming to SM Cinema this February 20.
Iliw, an Ilokano term for
‘nostalgia,’ explores the forbidden love between Fidela (Kaye Abad), a young
Filipina and Colonel Takashi (Hiroyuki Takashima), a Japanese soldier ordered
to destroy the city of Vigan. This period film is a visual treat as it managed
to capture the picturesque colonial town of Vigan.
About SM Cinema
SM Cinema, the country’s leading film exhibitor, takes pride in its 246
cinemas and 6 IMAX Theatres scattered in 45 branches across the country. All of
these theaters are now digital—delivering crystal-clear images and powerful
sound. At SM Cinema, movie-watching is more fun and rewarding with its e-PLUS
card loaded with VIP privileges, special promos, seasonal offers, quarterly
raffles and invites to exclusive events.
To know more about the company, visit SM Cinema’s website at
www.smcinema.com. You may also like SM Cinema on Facebook
(facebook.com/smcinema) and follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/sm_cinema). To
connect with IMAX on Facebook, follow facebook.com/imaxsmcinema and like them
on Twitter.com/imax_smcinema.
